Thursday, April 22, 2010

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Lao-tzu (604 BC - 531 BC)

Today is the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day. A day to respect and celebrate this great, big planet of ours. Fortunately eco-awareness has come a long way in the last forty years and for many the respect isn’t relegated to just one day out of 365. Yet there is still much change that needs to come for the health of this planet. And that starts with us. I know that change is hard. But I challenge you to use this day to take a step towards greening your beauty routine by eliminating one product that uses petrochemicals, hormone disrupters and synthetics that aren’t good for you or the earth. Doing so sends a message to the companies that they need to get green and promote those that already have. To take that first step, here are a few of my top picks to get you started. I encourage you to start reading the ingredients in the products you use and look out for the worst offenders. The Environmental Working Group has a great cheat sheet to print up and keep in your bag (click on the “Shopper's Guide to Safe Cosmetics”).

If you're looking to go green but don't know where to start, Sephora carries a variety of natural and organic gift sets, the perfect way to try out new products without making a big investment.

In other Earth Day news, Kiehl’s has created a Limited Edition Label Art series for their 100% natural and ECOCERT-certified organic, Açaí Damage-Protecting Toning Mist ($26). Artwork by Julianne Moore, Jeff Koons, Pharrell Williams and Malia Jones graces the bottles with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Rainforest Alliance. With the goal of raising $200,000 Kiehl’s teamed with the brilliant photographer David LaChapelle to capture the celebs and their creations. Locate a Kiehl’s store near you click here or go to www.kiehls.com to order online.

GREEN GIVEAWAY: In honor of Earth Day tarte is offering Beauty Banter readers the chance to win a fabulous giveaway. tarte lash hugger mascara ($18) is eco-friendly inside and out. Made with natural carnauba wax, mineral pigment for a great black tint, olive esters to nourish and rice bran wax to help lengthen lashes, it is also packaged in recycled aluminum tubes that may be re-recycled after use.

THREE lucky Beauty Banter readers will receive a tube by signing up for our newsletter (if you haven’t already it’s on the left hand side of the screen below) and leaving a comment along with your email. Contest is open to US residents and ends April 29th at 9PM Pacific.

AND DID YOU KNOW tarte also has a customerrecycling program with great perks?

Wishing you a fabulous Earth Day and look forward to learning about the products you discover while going green! xo a.

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comments:

Hello! I am already a newsletter subscriber. And I would love to be entered into your giveaway for Earth day. I am a very green person and I love Tarte. But I did not know about the recycling program. Thanks!

I already subscribe and look forward to your daily e-mails. Please enter me into your Tarte giveaway. I would love the opportunity to win. Thank you much for the giveaway and HAPPY EARTH DAY!!! xosweetbabyblues7@msn.com

Over the past few months I've been switching out all of my beauty products and buying natural and organic ones instead and have noticed a great improvement! My skin is looking a lot better and I've become more comfortable wearing less and less makeup. I've been wanting to try out Tarte products, thanks for this opportunity.maroongolf@hotmail.com , and I am a subscriber.

I love tarte & I'm so glad you are as excited about this company as well! I'm impressed that you talk about Eco-friendly makeup products! I'm very happy that this blog is not just about mac! Keep up the great work :)

Hi and thanks for your newsletter. I wanted to say I'd love to try Tarte's Mascara - While I use natural skin care products I've only recently discovered earth friendly makeup and I'd love to find a mascara that performed for me as well as provided opportunities to recycle. Thanks so much for offering this!

Hello! I just subscribed but am still waiting on a confirmation email to activate the account...I'm very delighted to see that there is a list of what to look for when buying cosmetics or what to avoid! I'm definitely printing them out for my friends and making sure to have a copy on me at all times in case they may forget theirs...

I also didn't know about Tarte's recycling program so thats really neat as I'm almost done with my Tinted Moisturizer! :)

I've read some of the blog posts and I'm very happy that I can subscribe...I just hope that confirmation email comes in soon! heheh!